Passion with Perspective: The Deciding Factor of Many Great Leaders

A Note from Chris Adams: Have you ever been around a really passionate person? Maybe that person was you! Passion is essential to serve the Lord with all our hearts, but without perspective it can be destructive as well. Simone Monroe, director of Women’s Ministries at Lake Pointe Church in Dallas, TX shares 7 key ideas and shows us how to have passion balanced with perspective.

Have you ever wondered what sets great leaders apart? Do you wish you knew why people so readily follow them? Have you ever wanted that “little something extra” they seem to have that makes them so effective with their team in their ministry and makes them the kind of leader you have always desired to be?

One quality that sets great leaders apart from other leaders is their passion. But it’s not just passion; it is passion with perspective.

Passion is the genesis of genius according to Galileo. “Passion is who you are, not just what you do,” says Dr. Robert Vallerand, who has studied passion extensively.

What makes passionate people different from everyone else? Here are seven observations of passionate people:

They are obsessed, in a good way, with their passion. They love what they do and do what they love.

They don’t waste time.

They are willing to take risks.

They only have one speed—full speed ahead.

They talk about their passion all the time.

They are highly excitable.

They are all about their work. In other words, they eat, sleep, and breathe their passion. Remember, their passion is who they are. Therefore, they cannot refrain from it.

None of these traits is bad. However, passion without the proper perspective of overall ministry can spell disaster.

So the question is, how do we gain the proper perspective and still function in our passion? Let’s work through each of these traits and see what can be done.

1. Passionate people are obsessed. Perhaps you have worked with someone so passionate they could not gain perspective on the whole because of their obsession with their passion. The key is to realize that ministry is made up of more than your area of passion. While that area holds importance, you must also give importance to other areas so the ministry can remain well rounded.

2. Passionate people don’t waste time. Remember that God’s timing is impeccable, so don’t rush ahead of Him. This does not mean you have to waste time, but you must learn to wait on God’s leadership. The right thing done at the wrong time can be disastrous.

3. Passionate people are willing to take risks. You must remember that ministry belongs to God, and the team has a vested interest too. Therefore, you must take into account the risk and count the cost in all aspects of the ministry before jumping in. How much is there to lose?

4. Passionate people only have one speed. The speed that anything is done should be determinant upon the buy-in of the people, momentum, and timing. All these must line up, no matter how much you wish to move ahead with something.

5, 6, & 7 are easily combined. Giving God control and realizing that others have passions too will help. You must attempt to be well-rounded because as the leader you have a responsibility to see all areas of ministry flourish.

Have passion, but make sure it includes perspective on ministry, life, and relationships!